News

Historic boat to take part in the Derwent Valley World Heritage Discovery Days

23 October 2017

Birdswood, the Friends of the Cromford Canal (FCC) well loved and popular trip boat has now carried over 25,000 by the end of September, in just four seasons. This wonderful old boat was built in 1938 and in its early days carried coal from Birmingham to London; but is now a key attraction for visitors to Cromford. Converted to electric power, so as not to pollute the nature reserve upon which it sails, it is also several days a month pulled by a horse. This is a very rare experience and the final Horse Day will be as part of the Derwent Valley World Heritage Discovery Days on 28th and 29th October. (Early booking is recommended). For more information visit the Friends of the Cromford Canal website and Derwent Valley website.

A Certificate of Excellence from the on-line TripAdvisor has been awarded to Birdswood due to this project being the number one of nine attractions in the Cromford area.

On the 1st November this boat will be lifted out of the water for her bi-annual inspection by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who inspect it before they can issue a renewal licence. During this operation all the internals are taken out, the hull is then cleaned both inside and out ready for the Santa Specials in December.

Background to the organization:

The Friends of the Cromford Canal were formed in March 2002, to restore the Cromford Canal from its present terminus at Langley Mill in Nottinghamshire, through Stoneyford, Ironville and Golden Valley, through Butterley Tunnel to Hartshay, Buckland Hollow, Sawmills, Bullbridge and Ambergate to link up with the isolated restored section from Ambergate to Cromford itself.

The intention is that this will be a fully navigable waterway, bringing tourists from all parts of the country to the beautiful World Heritage Site which is the Derwent Valley. There will be other major benefits: restoration will increase the biodiversity of the area and provide a vastly improved environment for local wildlife. Experience elsewhere has shown that canal restoration brings visitors to the area helping the local economy, providing economic development opportunities and creating additional jobs.

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